Cover assembly for an enclosure

ABSTRACT

A canopy assembly for a barrier defined by at least two sides, wherein the canopy assembly including a cover assembly; and a bracket assembly, coupled to the cover assembly, wherein the bracket assembly includes at least a first bracket for coupling the cover assembly to the first side of the barrier and at least a second bracket for coupling the cover assembly to the second side of the barrier, wherein each of the at least first and second brackets have a cavity dimensioned to receive a plurality of differently dimensioned barrier top rails or wall surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to coverings for enclosures, andin particular, to an improved canopy assembly for a barrier defined byat least two sides, wherein the canopy assembly comprises one or morebrackets having a cavity dimensioned to receive a plurality ofdifferently dimensioned barrier top rails or wall surfaces.

Accessories to cover enclosures are well known in the art. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,587 describes a modular animal shelter having acover that utilizes a plurality of male end portions that connect withfemale receiving portions with an “insert fit,” i.e. an end of one ofthe two members is received within an end of the other of the twomembers. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,959 describes a mobilecorral in which the roof is at least in part supported by support barsthat are attached to the side rails by U-shaped saddles. Lastly, U.S.Publication No. 2004/0089426 describes the use of a structure that canextend above a barrier wall and secured thereto through the use ofinverted “J” shaped saddle mounts.

However, it is believed that deficiencies still exist in the state ofthe art. For example, the aforementioned known roof, covering and/orextension assemblies are limited in their ability to receive a pluralityof differently dimensioned barriers, especially because of the 90°angles of the brackets used therewith. The closest known attempt toachieve the foregoing objective is through the use of tightening screws,an example of which is described and illustrated in the aforementionedU.S. Publication No. 2004/0089426, but which of course increases thenumber of needed components and which still limits the versatility toaccommodating only different thicknesses of the rectangular barrierwall. That is, the prior art is deficient, and the use of suchtightening screws makes such deficiency clear in that the prior artbrackets cannot accommodate and are not dimensioned to receive aplurality of differently dimensioned barrier top rails or wall surfaceswhile being able to maintain lateral stability of such rails and/or wallsurfaces. That is, in the prior art, such rails and/or wall surfaceswould not be laterally constrained within the cavity of such prior artbrackets.

Accordingly, still further developments in the art are desirable. Forexample, it would be advantageous to provide a canopy assembly for abarrier in which the bracket assembly is provided with brackets, whichthemselves are shaped to receive a plurality of differently dimensionedbarrier top rails or wall surfaces and which maintain lateral stabilityof and laterally constrain such rails and/or wall surfaces.

It has thus been discovered that improved brackets are achievable andprovided by the present invention, and it is further believed that thepresent invention overcomes the perceived deficiencies in the prior artas well as provides the objectives and advantages set forth above andbelow.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an objective and advantage of the present invention toprovide an improved canopy assembly that overcomes the perceiveddeficiencies in the prior art.

For example, it is an objective and advantage of the present inventionto provide an improved canopy assembly that is able to receive aplurality of differently dimensioned barrier top rails or wall surfaces.The term “dimensioned” with respect to the barrier top rails or wallsurfaces used throughout this application is meant to mean both in shape(e.g. circular, oval, etc.) and/or size (e.g. large or small, etc.).

In particular, it is an objective and advantage of the present inventionto provide an improved canopy assembly that utilizes brackets that aredimensioned to receive a plurality of differently dimensioned barriertop rails or wall surfaces. Similarly, the term “dimensioned” withrespect to the cavity of the bracket as disclosed herein is meant tomean both with respect to the angles of the inner side walls (asdisclosed below) and/or size (e.g. large or small, etc.).

In particular, it is an objective and advantage of the present inventionto provide such brackets to receive a plurality of differentlydimensioned and conventional barriers and which maintain lateralstability of by laterally constraining such rails and/or wall surfaceswhen received thereby.

That is, it is an objective and advantage of the present invention toprovide such canopy assemblies that can be retrofitted with a pluralityof differently dimensioned and conventional barriers. For example, thebrackets of the present invention are not specially adapted to be usedwith any single and particularly shaped or sized conventional barrier,thereby allowing any canopy assembly of the present invention to be usedwith and receive more than one conventionally and differentlydimensioned barrier, such as a fence or wall, and which still maintainlateral stability and laterally constraining of such rails and/or wallsurfaces.

Yet another objective and advantage of the present invention is toprovide an improved canopy assembly that provides temporary shelter foranimals, such as horses by way of example and not limitation, from sunand light precipitation.

Still another objective and advantage of the present invention is toprovide a tensioning system to further secure the canopy assembly to thebarrier.

Yet another objective and advantage of the present invention to providesuch a canopy assembly that can easily adapt to a plurality of barrierwidths and lengths, thereby accommodating a plurality of enclosuredimensions.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become moreapparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, arrangement of parts and sequence of steps thatwill be exemplified in the disclosure hereinafter set forth, and thescope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

To overcome the perceived deficiencies in the prior art and to achievethe objects and advantages above and below, the present invention in afirst preferred embodiment, is generally speaking, directed to a canopyassembly for a barrier defined by at least two sides, wherein the canopyassembly comprises a cover assembly; and a bracket assembly, coupled tothe cover assembly, wherein the bracket assembly comprises at least afirst bracket for coupling the cover assembly to the first side of thebarrier and at least a second bracket for coupling the cover assembly tothe second side of the barrier, wherein each of the at least first andsecond brackets have a cavity dimensioned to receive a plurality ofdifferently dimensioned barrier top rails or wall surfaces.

In a specific preferred embodiment, the enclosure is one for horses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above set forth and other features of the invention are made moreapparent in the ensuing Description of the Preferred Embodiments whenread in conjunction with the attached Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canopy assembly constructed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a section of the canopy assemblyconstructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is perspective view of a close-up portion of the canopy assemblyshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is perspective view of a bracket constructed in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the canopy assembly constructed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present inventionillustrated in FIG. 1, mounted atop a conventional barrier in the formof a conventional horse fence enclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken about lines 6-6 of FIG. 5,illustrating among other things, various and differently dimensionedbarrier top rails and/or wall surfaces all being received in the cavityof a bracket constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

Like numbers to identify like parts and features will be used among thevarious figures, but not all features will be specifically identified ineach illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Generally speaking, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention maybe advantageously designed as a steel structural frame assembly for atemporary shelter for animals from sun and light precipitation comprisedof a plurality of rib sections mounted to fixed, assembled rails withbracket attachment locations to existing horse panels. Advantageously,attachment brackets, preferably also made of steel, may be constructedin a way that the frame assembly can be lifted and placed on existinghorse panels. The brackets are preferably utilized in such a way toaccept a plurality of different panel cross sectional shape and/or sizeprofiles. Moreover, if desired, such brackets can be further secured byusing ratchets or any other conveyance connected to ground anchors. Afabric material may be used to cover the structure, with ratchets orother conveyances used to tension the cover, as well as provide anadditional attachment to the existing panels.

In a specific embodiment, the structure may be designed for a 12′×12′unit, yet the features and construction of the present invention lendsitself to being easily adaptable to a plurality of sizes. For example,additional straight sections of tube may or may not be used to adjustthe overall width of the canopy assembly. Alternatively (or inaddition), additional rib sections of tube may or may not be used toadjust the overall length of the canopy assembly. As would be understoodby those skilled in the art, each additional rib subassembly may requireadditional tubes and brackets for installation.

As will be more specifically discussed below, brackets constructed inaccordance with preferred embodiments may (or may not) include anelastomeric material as a liner for contacting the existing barrierpanels. The material may, for example, be a soft durometer and/or mayadhere to the bracket(s) using adhesive. Brackets constructed inaccordance with preferred embodiments may also contain an area (e.g. aslot) for usage as an anchor strap or other method of attachmentlocation. The brackets may also be permanently affixed to the tubes ofthe cover (e.g. rail) assembly (e.g. by welding or the like). Thepositioning of the brackets along the bottom of the canopy assemblyadvantageously allow additional ribs to be installed in the middle ofthe structure, up to for example and not limitation, four feet ribspacing.

As will also be understood by one skilled in the art, a cover of anysize can be made to cover the plurality of sizes of canopy assembliesthat are contemplated herein. In a preferred embodiment, the cover doesnot cover the existing barrier panels, but preferably only the canopyassembly itself.

And as but yet another feature of the present invention, the use ofratchets or other conveyances to tension the canopy assembly may beutilized. Preferably, if used, the ratchet itself is placed towards theoutside of the barrier structure so as to not interfere with the innerenclosure occupied by an animal therein. Also preferably, all anchorsand straps are placed in a way to eliminate or at least minimize chancesof damage to the barrier, the enclosure, the canopy assembly and/or theanimal enclosed therein and protected thereby.

With the general disclosure of certain features of the present inventionhaving been made above, reference is now made to FIGS. 1-6 for a moredetailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention.

For example, in accordance with a first embodiment, a canopy assembly,generally indicated at 10, constructed in accordance with a firstembodiment, is provided. Generally speaking, canopy assembly 10comprises a cover assembly, generally indicated at 20, which in apreferred embodiment, comprises a rail assembly made up of a pluralityof horizontal rail assemblies 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D and a plurality of archrail assemblies 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D. Such horizontal rail assembliesand arch rail assemblies may be made up of one or more sections as wouldbe known in the art, such as for example, from a reading of U.S. Pat.No. 7,296,584, the disclosure of which is incorporated by referenceherein for this disclosure. Preferably, a fabric material, generallyindicated at 50 in FIG. 5, may be provided to cover assembly 20, withratchets or other conveyances used to tension the cover 50 as would bewell understood in the art.

Canopy assembly 10 also comprises a bracket assembly coupled to thecover assembly 20. In a preferred embodiment, the bracket assemblypreferably comprises at least two (2), but preferably at least four (4),brackets, each generally indicated at 40. An exemplary bracket 40 isshown more particularly in FIG. 4. Each bracket 40 is provided to assistcoupling the cover assembly 20 to the barrier. As will be disclosed ingreater detail below, each of the brackets 40 are preferably dimensionedto receive a plurality of differently dimensioned (shaped and/or sized)barrier rail tops and/or wall surfaces.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate bracket 40 a bit more closely, while FIG. 3 forexample illustrates how rail assembly 22E may be sectionally joined,with a spring pin 23 provided to interlock sections of rail assembly22E. In a preferred embodiment, each of the steel brackets 40 arepreferably welded to the respective steel rail assembly location toprovide maximum structural integrity.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4-6 for a more detailed disclosure of apreferred bracket construction. Preferably, each of the brackets 40 isof a general “U-shape” in that each bracket is shaped to engage aplurality of differently dimensioned top edges of a barrier, generallyindicated at 100, which may be, for example and not limitation, a fencecomprised of piping or rails (herein generically referred to as“rail(s)”). The topmost rail, indicated by reference number 110 can beof different dimensions, which is to be interpreted herein as includingdifferent sizes and/or shapes, as more particularly illustrated in FIG.6. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates topmost rail 110 taking differentdimensions of sizes (e.g. different circular cross-sections of diameterD₁ and D₂, as well as oval cross-sections having lengths/widths L₁×W₁and L₂×W₂) as well as shapes (i.e. FIG. 6 showing that the topmost railcan be of a circular cross-section or an oval cross-section, by way ofexample). To be sure, the barrier 100 could also be a wall of some sort,and the present invention, as disclosed herein, can accommodate thisembodiment as well.

The ability to accommodate different size and/or shaped top rails 110 isdue to the unique shape of bracket 40. That is, as best seen in FIG. 6,bracket 40 is preferably comprised of at least two (2) interior surfacesS₁, and S₃, which if such surfaces were extended, would meet at angleα₃, as illustrated. In a preferred embodiment, this angle α₃ is between300-800, and in a specifically preferred embodiment, angle α₃, is about400.

However, in another preferred embodiment, bracket 40 also preferablycomprises at least a 3^(rd) interior surface denoted S₂, joiningsurfaces S₁ and S₃ at angles α₁ and α₂ as illustrated. Preferably theangles of α₁ and α₂ are about 140° and about 80°, respectively. Anadvantage of having the 3^(rd) wall/surface S₂ is to allow the bracketto seat closer to the vertical axis of the attached tube.

The corral panels used function better structurally when the pinconnections are at a maximum, that is, “in tension”. Limiting S₂'s anglein relation to S₁ (α₁) transmits a small horizontal load in the outboarddirection to assist the corral panels to stay in the maximum position.By placing the position of the attached rail slightly inboard to thetheoretical centers of each size and shape, the bracket ensures thisparticular case of loading. By limiting the horizontal placement of eachprofile of tube, the vector of force in the horizontal direction due tothe weight of the structure is minimized. The location of wall S₂ alsoprevents opposite horizontal loading towards the inboard side.

It can be seen that the foregoing design is in patentable distinction tothe 90° angles of the “J” shaped bracket of U.S. Publication No.2004/0089426, this latter bracket being clearly limited in its abilityto be secured to differently dimensioned (i.e. in size and/or shape)railings, posts and/or top wall edges of a barrier structure (anddescribed in the '426 application as being limited as such without theuse of tightening screws 135). That is, as should now be understood, theprior art designs (e.g. a conventional “U-shape” or “J-shape” bracket)are unable to provide lateral stability and lateral constraint of suchrails and/or wall surfaces when secured within the bracket 40 as shownin FIG. 6. That is, as illustrated in the figures, most notably FIG. 6,any sized/shaped pipe, rail or wall surface received within bracket 40will always be provided with lateral stability and constraint even ifonly secured against two of the three walls due to most significantlythe selection of angle α₃ and second most importantly by the selectionof angle α₂, with the preferred selections being as noted above.

By “lateral stability” and/or “lateral constraint” it is intended tomean the lack of the ability of the pipe to move in either horizontaldirection, as indicated by the “X” and “Y” arrows in FIG. 6.

With the invention so constructed, the bracket design of the presentinvention can accommodate different sized and dimensioned circular, ovaland/or rectangular cross-sections of pipes or rails.

To further assist in securing canopy assembly 10 to barrier 100, ananchoring assembly, generally indicated at 200, comprising one or moreground anchors 250, may be provided. In a preferred embedment, eachbracket 40 taking advantage of the anchoring assembly 200 comprises aslot 42 for coupling the brackets 40 to said one or more anchors 250. Aratchet assembly, generally indicated at 270 may also be provided inconnection with each bracket 40 to assist in tightening and maintainingeach of the brackets 40 against the respective topside edges (e.g.rails, wall, or the like) of barrier 100.

Each bracket may also comprise a liner 45 (FIG. 6) comprised of anelastomeric material that engages the outer surface of the top rail 110of barrier 100 when the bracket 40 is coupled thereto. Liner 45 may becomprised of a soft durometer material and/or may adhere to the innersurface of bracket 40 using adhesive. Preferably (but not necessarily)all of the brackets are identically constructed, e.g. they all include aliner 45 or they all do not and/or all the brackets 40 comprise slot 42or they all do not.

It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a canopyassembly that can be more universally used with various constructions ofbarriers, such as horse fences and the like. That is, the canopyassembly as disclosed and claimed herein is applicable and able to beused with, secured to and receive multiple conventional barrier toprails (and/or wall surfaces), and horse fences as just but one example.Importantly, the claimed canopy assembly, with the unique bracketdesign, is able to be used with a range of conventional barriers, andhorse fences are but one example, that were not designed normanufactured with the use of any particular canopy assembly in mind (orat least not one as versatile as that disclosed and claimed herein).That is, the ability of the disclosed and claimed canopy assembly, basedon the uniquely shaped brackets, to be able to mount and be secured to aplurality of conventional and multidimensional (i.e. in shape and/orsize) barriers in a manner that provides for improved lateral stabilityregardless of the size/shape barrier wall/rail secured thereto, thusmaking the present invention highly advantageous and superior to priorart canopy designs for similar purposes. Moreover, the incorporation ofthe anchoring assembly to help tension the brackets and thus the canopyassembly to the barrier provides additional structural integrity to theoverall enclosure structure formed thereby. Moreover, it should be clearthat by “conventional” it is meant that the barriers used herewith werenot designed or manufactured with the use of the claimed canopy assemblyin mind, i.e. without a particular shaped or sized top rail 110cross-section.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withrespect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A canopy assembly for a barrier defined by atleast two sides, wherein the canopy assembly comprises: a coverassembly; and a bracket assembly, coupled to the cover assembly, whereinthe bracket assembly comprises: at least a first bracket for couplingthe cover assembly to the first side of the barrier and at least asecond bracket for coupling the cover assembly to the second side of thebarrier, wherein each of the at least first and second brackets have acavity dimensioned to receive a plurality of differently dimensionedbarrier top rails or wall surfaces of the barrier; an anchoringassembly, comprising one or more anchors, for additional securing atleast one of the first and second brackets to the barrier top rail orwall surface; and a ratchet assembly, coupled to the anchoring assembly,for tightening at least one of the at least first and second bracketsagainst the top rails or wall surfaces to which the ratchet assembly iscoupled; whereby the cover assembly can be further secured to thebarrier.
 2. The canopy assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein: thecover assembly comprises a rail assembly; and wherein each of the atleast first and second brackets are configured to slide over from abovethe plurality of differently dimensioned barrier top rails or wallsurfaces; whereby each rail or wall surface would be laterallyconstrained in the respective bracket.
 3. The canopy assembly as claimedin claim 1, wherein each of the at least first and second brackets havea cavity configured to slide over from above, and laterally constrain, aplurality of differently dimensioned barrier top rails or wall surfacesof the barrier.